Water gauge for automobile radiators



' T I. TAYLOR. WATER GAUGE FOR AUTOMOBILE- Mommas.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14 1921. 1, 21,615.

Patented Jill 4,- 1922.

unreasostares ca eer THOMAS I. TAYLOR, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO TAYLOR TEACHIN- ERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WATER GAUGE FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS.

Application filled June 14,

" tors, so that-the driver may be informed at all times by visible means from his position when driving, whether or not the radiator water supply is in need of replenishment.-

The structure in which this indicator is embodied is designed for attachment to the radiator in place of the usual filling nozzle cap, but is so designed that it does not hinder in any way the action of filling the radiator, and even makes such action easier than the ordi'nary filling operation. Furthermore it is so designed that the delicate movable parts are protected by a rugged surrounding structure from injury, such as might be caused, for instance, by a robe thrown over the radiator to protect the water from freezing in cold weather.

The indicator also provides a surface exposed to the air for condensing vapor arisaway of the indicator.

ing from the heated water and returning it. to the'radiator;'and it is moreover, an ornamentaladjunct to the car.

For a full explanation of this invention, together with further objects and advantages, and .of all its details and combina-' tions of parts, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which-.

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly broken Figure 2 is a central vertical section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view. I

Referring to these drawings at l is indicated a filling member havingat its lower end a threaded connection 2 for engagement with the usual threadedfilling opening or nozzle of the radiator. This member terminates at its upper end. in an outwardly liar- Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented July 4, i922. 1921. Serial No. 477,367.

funnel portion 3, and between its ends it is widened and formed with a central open space 4 which extends all the way through it. At each side of the open space the member is formed with internal passageways 5 which merge together at both the upper and lower ends of the member, and the inner wall 6 of which provides the boundaries of the open space. Essentially the filling member is a hollow annular body with a threaded flange at one end and a funnel at the diametrically opposite end, It is preferably approximately circular in out line between the threaded flange and funnel. but might have various other forms. The

- interior open space surrounded by a strong and rigid structure is, however, an important item of the appliance.

From the inner wall 6 of the annular body at the upper part of such wall there rises a web or boss '7 which gives support to a strainer 8 extending across the outlet from the funnel. Various modes of securing the strainer may be provided, but I prefer to secure it by providing on the end of the boss 7 a teat which is passed through a hole in thestrainer and is headed over the material of the strainer surrounding such hole.

From the lower part of the inner wall of the body there extends a web or stem 9 which is preferably in the axis of the threaded flange 2 and encloses a passageway 10 opening through the wall 6. This stem has a length sufficient to guide a rod 11 with freedom for the latter to move endwise and without liability of it to bind. The passage 10 is a guideway for this rod.

iently made as a metal casting, and it can be thus made of any of the metalsused for' structural or ornamental Work. It may also be cast or molded from non-metallic mate rials which are susceptible of being cast or molded. v

' The lower end of the rod 11 is secured to a float 12 adapted to be supported by water in the radiator, and its upper end extends into the open space 4 to serve as. or carry,

an indicator. Preferably the indicator is a ball or knob 13 made fast to the rod, in order that it may be conspicuous enough to furit will not be damaged by ordinary causes,-

nish a visible indication to the driver as to the heightof water in the radiator. So long as there is plenty of water in the radiator, the ball 13 will be apd remain above the bottom of the open space 4:, or up to its upper limit of motion, which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and when the water level becomes low the ball will descend toward the position shown in full lines in this figure. L

The member 1 furnishes a supporting and protecting housing for the indicator so that such as by throwing a robe over the radiator as is customary in cold weather to prevent the water from freezing. v

The passages 4 have extended wall surfaces exposed on all sides to the atmosphere, and so furnish a condensing surface for vapors arising from the heated water within the radiator. The vapors are condensed on the inner surfaces of these walls and drain back within the radiator. The upper end of the funnel is preferably left open so that the radiator may be filled readily when desired. No cap is necessary because the shape and disposition of the water passages baffle the tendency of the water to slop out with the agitation which is caused by the car equipped with the device traveling .over

rou h round. And the omission of a ca is a great convenience to the motorist as it avoids the necessity of the troublesome removal and replacement of the cap every time the radiator needs filling. The inconvenience of handling the ordinary filling nozzle cap is sometimes serious, particularly when the radiator is hot. Then again the absence of a cap allows the uncondensed vapor arising from the radiator water to pass out into the open air, and the appearance of this vapor gives an indication to the driver as to whether or not the circulating water, and consequently the engine, is becoming overheated. n

Having thus described the embodiment of this invention it should be evident that many changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

1. A water level indicator comprising a member supportable from the filling opening of an automobile radiator and having an opening transversely therethrough, and also having a water passage in the wall bounding such opening, a float adapted to hesupported by water in the radiator, and tin indicator exposed within the opening of said member in operative connection with said float to be raised and lowered by corresponding movements of the latter.

2. A water level indicator comprising a,

radiator supply member having-a pair of water passageways spaced apart intermediate their" ends to form a transverse opening, a guideway centrally disposed at the lower ends of said' passageways, a float adapted to be supported by water in the radiator, an indicator positioned in said transverse opening, and a rod attached at its lower end to said float, extending upwardly through said guidewa-y and supportopening, a rod slidable in said Perforation, a

float carried by the lower end of said rod and adapted to be supported by water in the radiator, and an indicator carried by the upper end of said rod within said transverse opening.

4. A device of the class described comprising a hollow annular filling member adapted to be attached to the water supply opening of a radiator and having a funnel at its upper end, a boss extending upwardly from theupper part of the inner wall of said member toward said funnel, a strainer secured to said boss and crossing the passage through said funnel, said member having an interior transverse opening and a passage in the wall which bounds said opening, a stem having a central perforation disposed at the lower end of said member, said perforation communicating with said transverse opening a fioat'adapted to be supported by water in the radiator, a rod extending upwardly from said float and through said perforation, and an indicator positioned within said transverse opening and fixed to theupper end of said rod.

5. A device of the class described comprising a. filling member adapted to be attached to the water supply opening of a radiator and having a funnel-shaped open upper end, a web extending upwardly to the base of said funnel-shaped portion and defining apair of passageways spaced apart between their ends, said member having an opening transversely therethrough between said passageways, a stem having a central perforation disposed at the lower end of said passageways, said perforation communicating with said transverse opening, a float adapted to be supported by water in the radiator, a rod extending upwardly from said float and through said perforation, an

rod,'.and a strainer supported on said firstmentioned Web within the base of said funnel.

6. An attachment for automobile radiators comprising a hollow annular body with a space-enclosing flange at one end of a diameter adapted to be mounted on the filling nozzle of such radiator,' and having a receiving opening in its outer Wall near the opposite end of the same diameter; such opening and the Space Within said flange communicating with the hollow interior of said body. 1

In testimony whereof I have efined my signature. THGMAS ll, TAYLQE, 

